Unit Plan 28 (Grade 1 Social Studies): Needs and Wants
Help first graders distinguish needs from wants through picture sorts and a class “store,” learning how limited resources require making choices and explaining what they give up.
Focus: Help students differentiate between what we need to live and what we want for fun or comfort, using simple examples and a class “store” to practice choices with limited resources.
Grade Level: 1
Subject Area: Social Studies (Economics • Inquiry Connections)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students explore the big idea that we cannot have everything we want, so we make choices. They learn to tell the difference between needs (things we must have to live and stay safe) and wants (things we like to have but can live without). Through stories, picture sorts, and a simple class store simulation, students practice deciding what to choose when time, tokens, or items are limited. They also talk about how families make decisions together to meet needs first.
Essential Questions
- What is a need? What is a want?
- Why can’t we have everything we want all the time?
- How do choices help us when we have limited resources (like money, time, or tokens)?
- How do families decide what to buy or do when they cannot choose everything?
- How can I explain my choice and tell what I gave up?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Define and give examples of needs (e.g., food, water, shelter, clothing) and wants (e.g., toys, candy, games).
- Sort picture cards and classroom examples into “Needs” and “Wants” with teacher support.
- Explain that we have limited resources and cannot pick everything we see.
- Participate in a simple class store activity where they choose one item and can say what they did not choose.
- Use simple oral or drawn explanations to show a choice and name one need and one want from their own life.
Standards Alignment — 1st Grade (C3-based custom)
- 1.C3.Econ.1 — Differentiate needs and wants; connect to limited resources.
- Example: Food vs. toys; choose one item from a class “store.”
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can tell the difference between a need and a want.
- I can sort pictures into needs and wants and explain my thinking.
- I can say that we have limited resources, so we must make choices.
- I can pick one thing from a class store and say what I gave up.
- I can name one need and one want from my own life and explain why.